Humph

From today's A's Notebook, SF Chronicle:

Manager Ken Macha has indicated that Blanton and Dan Meyer are in as Nos. 4 and 5 unless they pitch themselves out. Seth Etherton, Kirk Saarloos and Keiichi Yabu remain available should Blanton and/or Meyer falter.

I was kinda hoping to see Yabu make the rotation as the #5 starter. It just seemed to make the most sense. Yabu as #5 and Meyer to start the season in AAA, since Meyer has no time in the Majors. Yabu would probably be a decent pitcher for a #5 but will tire out by the All Star Break, since Japanese Seasons are shorter than American Seasons, and Meyer would be called up from Sac and Yabu would be moved to the 'pen. This way, Meyer's arbitration clock would start later, which is a very A's thing to do.

But then and again, I am no evaluator of baseball talent and if somebody who a bona fide evaluator says Meyer is ready for the Big Show, then who am I to question him?

Also:

Roster moves: Right-handed pitchers Jairo Garcia and Chris Mabeus, infielders Freddie Bynum and Adam Morrissey and outfielder Matt Watson were optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. Reassigned to the minor-league camp were right-handed pitchers Evan Fahrner, Brad Sullivan and Billy Sylvester, infielder Brian Snyder and outfielders Jack Cust and Richie Robnett. That leaves the A's with 46 players in camp.

Jairo Garcia, who had time with the A's last season is sent down to AAA before Huston Street, who I believe is still in the big league camp. People have been raving about that guy too. Our pen is going to be stacked this year.

I'm also glad that Eric Byrnes is having another crazy spring:

... Eric Byrnes just missed a home run in the sixth inning when his drive off Shawn Estes was foul. Byrnes hit the next pitch out of the park fair.

Don't be surprised if I'll be blogging intermittently this week, it's finals week for me. My last final will be on St. Patrick's Day, and I will celebrate the end of my finals...in San Francisco...with pints of Guiness and green beer...I can almost taste it.